Fretting-wear Characteristics of Steam Generator Helical Tubes

This study investigates the safety assessment of the potential for fretting-wear damages caused by foreign object in operating nuclear power plants. To get the natural frequency, corresponding mode shape and participation factor, modal analyses are performed for the helical type tubes with various conditions. The wear rate of helical type tube caused by foreign object is calculated using the Archard formula and the remaining life of the tube is predicted, and discussed in this study is the effect of the vibration of the tube on the remaining life of the tube. In addition, addressed is the effect of the external pressure on the vibration and fretting-wear characteristics of the tube.